Class: Cordage and Continuity – The exploration of cordage as a process to transform the meaningful materials in our lives. with Saoirse Byrne
Tuition: $160/Members $180/Non-Members
Class Dates: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024
Times: 9:30-12:30/1:30 – 4:30pm
Place: Pacific Textile Arts classroom
Number of Students: Minimum: 5 Max:10
Materials fee: None
List of items students need to bring: Please bring two to three different lightweight fabrics or garments that you are interested in working with- they could be special or curious to you in some way. T-shirts can make great cordage, and the fabric can be torn or stained and turn into wonderful cordage. If you would like to add beads to your necklace, please bring large holed beads that you are drawn to or objects that have holes- beach finds and found objects are welcome! I find natural fibers more pleasing to work with but it is more important to me that you resonate with the material regardless of fiber content. Please feel free to email me with any questions and I look forward to meeting you in November.
Class Description: Humans have been making cordage for tens of thousands of years. Please join Saoirse Byrne in learning how to apply this ancient process to the materials in our lives that are sentimental in some way but no longer serve in their current form. This workshop is an opportunity to learn the basic technique as it applies to a variety of fabrics and have the time and guidance to explore different approaches using cordage to create unique and meaningful necklaces or garlands. Folks will come away with a finished necklace or the beginning of a longer piece as well as an understanding of the principles of the technique and how to apply them to various materials. Cordage is a slow process that lends itself to reflection and conversation. By gathering for a full day we can explore the question of how a line continues- a lineage of family, of thought, of skill- we can share and learn from one another.
This class will give folks a broad understanding of how to prepare and work with various materials and an opportunity to play with different approaches to cordage. Folks will use fabrics that they bring that are in some way special to them and I will share the process and considerations of turning a wide variety of materials into cordage. Folks will come away with a finished necklace or the start of a more lengthy piece.
BIO:
Saoirse Byrne is an artist, designer and craftsperson based in Boonville, California. For over a decade she has been exploring the form of cordage in jewelry, accessories, soft furnishings, and custom commissions. Saoirse trained as a fashion designer at Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with an MBA in Sustainability from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco among the pioneering cohort. Her exploration of cordage began with learning to twist wild harvested plants with Tamara Wilder. Curious, she applied the process to the abundance of materials in her studio and life. The threadbare handkerchief that once belonged to her great grandmother was precious but altogether unusable. As cordage it became strong, a loving reminder of family connections- a necklace that could be worn and a process that could be shared.
Website: www.SaoirseByrne.com
Instagram: @lineage_of
Facebook: Lineage Of
Links to other pages/articles: https://wordofmouthmendo.com/word-of-mouth-stories/cordage E
Questions: Email classes@pacifictextilearts.org
